AES Pacific NW Section Meeting Notice Around the Puget Sound, Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. AES PNW Meeting Notice By special arrangement with Palm Pictures A film documentary Tom Dowd and The Language of Music September 30, 2004, 7:30pm Shoreline Community College, Room 818 (music building) Every so often a commercial film arrives which shows the magic, art, and science behind what many of us love to do: audio for music. The most recent entry in this category enchanted a number of members of the Committee, and the PNW Section invites you to join us for a special showing of the video of the film: Tom Dowd & the Language Of Music. http://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/index-pf.htm (1 of 3) [10/1/2004 1:17:35 AM] AES Pacific NW Section Meeting Notice Tom Dowd was born in 1925 to musical parents. While pursuing a degree in Nuclear Physics at Columbia University, he ended up working for the US Army Corps of Engineers on what came to be known as the Manhattan Project, whose responsibility was the development of the first atomic bombs. After the war, security concerns and red tape created a no-win situation: finishing his degree was pointless. A summer job after the war led to a career in the music business. He cut his first record in 1947 at the age of 22. He remained active in the business until shortly before his death at age 77. Early on, Dowd met the Ertegun brothers, Ahmet and Nesuhi. The Ertegun brothers had a record label, Atlantic Records, and they had the good sense and timing to hire Dowd and Jerry Wexler. Between the four of them, they reshaped the face of the music business. Lest you not be familiar with the breadth, depth, and volume of Tom Dowd's work, let's take a trip down memory lane. In no particular order: Aretha Franklin Respect, Chain of Fools Eric Clapton Layla & other love songs, 461 Ocean Blvd At the Fillmore East, Seven Turns, Eat a The Allman Brothers Band Peach Cream Disraeli Gears, Live Vol 2, Wheels of Fire Hallelujah I Love Her So, Let the Good Ray Charles Times Roll Bobby Darin Splish Splash Yackety Yack, Poison Ivy, Along Came The Coasters Jones Save the Last Dance, Under the Boardwalk, The Drifters On Broadway Kenny Loggins Keep the Fire (This is It) The Rascals Groovin, Good Lovin', People Got to be Free Wilson Pickett Mustang Sally, In the Midnight Hour Charlie Mingus The Art of Charles Mingus The list is astounding just in its sheer length, not to mention for the numbers of different genres and artists that he influenced. Get the picture? This film is a 90-minute documentary profiling the life and work of a man whose personal history reflects the evolution of modern music and recording technology: legendary producer/recording engineer Tom Dowd. Tom was an Atlantic Records engineer (1947-1979) responsible for some of the most important R&B, rock, and jazz records ever made. After leaving Atlantic, he went independent and continued producing/engineering hit records until his death in 2002. His Interviews with recording industry icons tell the story of this humble genius, while historical footage, photographs and classic music tracks capture the magic of the recording studio. It's here that Dowd, the unaffected master, recounts the recording sessions and technical achievements that altered the course of contemporary music. Filmmaker Mark Moormann premiered this independently produced feature-length documentary at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, and the film had its international premiere at the 2003 Toronto International Film Festival. It has screened at festivals around the world to overwhelmingly enthusiastic audiences and widespread critical acclaim. http://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/index-pf.htm (2 of 3) [10/1/2004 1:17:35 AM] AES Pacific NW Section Meeting Notice Special thanks to Rob Silverberg and Chris Blackwell of Palm Pictures for granting us permission for a group screening of this film. Palm Pictures is distributing the film in North America and the Caribbean, playing at theaters in selected cities in the U.S.. It was just released in DVD, and that is what we will be viewing. There will be refreshments, and if time allows, a post-viewing discussion. About this film Release Information: ● Studio: Wea Corp ● Theatrical Release Date: January 1, 2003 ● DVD Release Date: August 24, 2004 ● Edition Details: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. This DVD will probably NOT be viewable in other countries.) Read more about DVD formats. ASIN: B00011ZBOS Click here for directions to Shoreline Community College. The Tom Dowd Discography The Tom Dowd Discography (Excel spreadsheet) The Movie's website Buy it! Our meetings are open to anyone interested in Audio. AES membership is NOT required for you to attend our meetings. Last modified 10/1/2004. http://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/index-pf.htm (3 of 3) [10/1/2004 1:17:35 AM] The Tom Dowd Discography The Tom Dowd Discography. The data in this listing came from a search on the allmusic.com website: http://www.allmusic.com It is worth your while to visit. Year Title Artist Credit Atlantic Jazz: The Avant 1947 Various Artists Engineer Garde Stan Getz with Jimmy 1949 Early Stan Stan Getz Engineer Raney and Terry Gib If I Knew You Were Comin' 1949 Eileen Barton Engineer I'd've Baked a Cake Lawrence "Piano Roll" 1949 Old Piano Roll Blues Engineer Cook 1950 I Love a Piano Joe Bushkin Engineer 1951 Piano Panorama Billy Taylor Engineer House of David: The David 1952 "Fathead" Newman David "Fathead" Newman Producer Anthology 1952 MJQ: 40 Years The Modern Jazz Quartet Engineer New New Orleans Jazz, Vol. 1952 Wilbur DeParis Engineer 2 Songs by Sylvia Syms 1952 Sylvia Syms Engineer [Atlantic] 1953 Fun with Mae Barnes Mae Barnes Engineer 1953 Greta Keller Sings Kurt Weil Greta Keller Engineer Clyde McPhatter and the 1953 Money Honey Engineer Drifters Songs by Mabel Mercer, 1953 Mabel Mercer Engineer Vol. 1 1953 Way I Feel Clyde McPhatter Engineer 1954 Bells of St. Mary's The Drifters Engineer http://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/dowd.htm (1 of 32) [10/1/2004 1:18:17 AM] The Tom Dowd Discography 1954 Bip Bam The Drifters Engineer Complete Atlantic 1954 Recordings of Lennie Lee Lennie Tristano Engineer Tristano Complete Capitol & Atlantic 1954 Recordings of Jimmy Jimmy Giuffre Engineer Giuffre Clyde McPhatter and the 1954 Honey Love Engineer Drifters 1954 Lucille The Drifters Engineer 1954 Sh-Boom The Chords Engineer Songs by Mabel Mercer, 1954 Mabel Mercer Engineer Vol. 2 Clyde McPhatter and the 1954 Such A Night Engineer Drifters 1954 Three Thirty Three The Drifters Engineer 1955 Bobby Short Bobby Short Engineer 1955 East Coast Jazz, Vol. 6 Urbie Green Engineer 1955 Gone The Drifters Engineer Lee Konitz with Warne Lee Konitz with Warne 1955 Engineer Marsh Marsh New New Orleans Jazz, Vol. 1955 Wilbur DeParis Engineer 1 1955 Sings Cole Porter Mabel Mercer Engineer 1955 Songs of Bobby Short Bobby Short Engineer 1955 This Is Chris Chris Connor Engineer Clyde McPhatter and the 1955 What'cha Gonna Do Engineer Drifters 1956 Art of Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Engineer 1956 Big Joe Rides Again Big Joe Turner Engineer http://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/dowd.htm (2 of 32) [10/1/2004 1:18:17 AM] The Tom Dowd Discography 1956 Clovers [Atlantic] The Clovers Engineer Clyde McPhatter & the 1956 Drifters [Atlantic/Black The Drifters Engineer Label] 1956 Good Lovin' The Clovers Engineer Jazz Date with Chris 1956 Chris Connor Engineer Connor/Chris Craft 1956 Joe Mooney's Song Joe Mooney Engineer Mabel Mercer & Bobby 1956 Midnight at Mabel Mercer's Engineer Short 1956 One Mint Julep The Clovers Engineer Passions of a Man: The 1956 Complete Atlantic Charles Mingus Engineer, Liner Notes Recordings Pithecanthropus Erectus 1956 Charles Mingus Engineer [Atlantic] Clyde McPhatter and the 1956 Rock and Roll Engineer Drifters Sings the George Gershwin 1956 Chris Connor Engineer Almanac of Song 1956 Speaking of Love Bobby Short Engineer 1956 Treasure of Love Clyde McPhatter Engineer 1956 Word From Bird Teddy Charles Engineer Chris Connor Sings George 1957 Chris Connor Engineer Gershwin 1957 Clown [Deluxe Edition] Charles Mingus Engineer 1957 Fools Fall in Love The Drifters Engineer 1957 Great Ray Charles [Atlantic] Ray Charles Engineer 1957 Long Lonely Nights Clyde McPhatter Engineer 1957 No Sun in Venice The Modern Jazz Quartet Engineer http://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/dowd.htm (3 of 32) [10/1/2004 1:18:17 AM] The Tom Dowd Discography 1957 Plenty, Plenty Soul Milt Jackson Engineer 1957 Sing Me a Swing Song Bobby Short Engineer 1957 Tonight at Noon Charles Mingus Engineer Without Love (There Is 1957 Clyde McPhatter Engineer Nothing) 1958 Bean Bags Milt Jackson Engineer 1958 Drip Drop The Drifters Engineer 1958 It's Mister Fathead David Newman Engineer 1958 LaVern Sings Bessie Smith LaVern Baker Engineer 1958 Love Ballads Clyde McPhatter Engineer 1958 Lover's Question Clyde McPhatter Engineer 1958 Mad Twenties Bobby Short Engineer Modern Jazz Quartet at the 1958 The Modern Jazz Quartet Engineer Music Inn, Vol. 2 Modern Jazz Quartet at the 1958 The Modern Jazz Quartet Engineer Music Inn, Vol. 2 Modern Jazz Quartet with The Modern Jazz Quartet 1958 Engineer Sonny Rollins with Sonny Rolli 1958 Most Happy Fella Les Jazz Modes Engineer 1958 Once in a Blue Moon Mabel Mercer Engineer 1958 Piano & Pen Dick Katz Engineer 1958 Ray Charles at Newport Ray Charles Engineer 1958 Rockin' & Driftin' The Drifters Engineer 1958 Soul Brothers Ray Charles Engineer Amor!: The Fabulous Guitar 1959 Luiz Bonfá Engineer of Luiz Bonfa 1959 Art of the Improvisers Ornette Coleman Engineer Milt Jackson & John 1959 Bags and Trane Engineer